Today's News

An Aug. 19 wreck that claimed the life of a Rockwood woman wasn’t the first time Johnny R. Foland has been charged with driving under the influence.
Trooper Mike Beaty noted on the warrant that it was Foland’s sixth DUI offense.

The fatal crash was on Eagle Furnace Road around 7 p.m. Beaty said when he arrived he saw a Chrysler Sebring that had struck a utility pole and a tree.
“The vehicle had also overturned and an occupant in the vehicle was found deceased,” the warrant said.

The Roane County Commission has approved a plan that officials hope will keep the county jail in good standing with the Tennessee Corrections Institute.
The jail is certified to hold 174 inmates.
The population was 194 when TCI Detention Facility Specialist Denise Messer inspected it on July 2. Messer recommended certification with a plan of action.
Earlier this month, the commission passed a resolution that calls for the county to participate in the TCI county corrections partnership initiative.

Some visitors to Rockwood’s downtown can barely get out of their vehicles before someone asks them for money.
Rockwood City Councilwoman Peggy Evans said she’s noticed an increase in panhandling recently and suggested an ordinance to restrict it.
It passed on first reading Monday.

Someone got Rockwood’s credit card information and used it to go on a shopping spree this month.
City recorder Becky Ruppe said a man used the city’s card information to purchase a leather jacket and other clothing online at Nordstrom for a total of $1,286.
She said police have a suspect, but no arrests or charges have been made yet.
“We will be prosecuting that person,” Ruppe said.
She said city officials filed the necessary paperwork with Regions Bank to get reimbursed.

Beginning Aug. 29, public K-12 schools in Tennessee will be able to apply for Student Ticket Subsidy Funds.

The Tennessee Arts Commission’s application process will open at 9 a.m.

Student Ticket Subsidy is a program funded through specialty license plate funds and administered through the Tennessee Arts Commission.

This year the program will subsidize student tickets for arts and cultural experiences to encourage schools to expose Tennessee students to a broad variety of cultural experiences, arts disciplines and artists.